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Reviews of Downtown Bed and Breakfast

2.5 out of 5
Downtown Bed and Breakfast
263 McLeod Street, Ottawa, ON

Reviews

7.0

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 26 out of 125 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 41 out of 125 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 32 out of 125 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 15 out of 125 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 11 out of 125 reviews" "

7.2/10

Cleanliness

7.8/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

6.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Marco

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
I like the location. I did not like the breakfast.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

GERALD

Liked: Staff & service
My stay was like being at a home away from home. I would return given another opportunity.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Ronald

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The house could be very nice but there is allot of unused furniture cluttering up the rooms and beds / Mattresses could be updated
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice people
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

8/10 Good

Zipei

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I had a wonderful time during my short trip. The house is old, so surely the facilities may not be as good as some newer places. However, it was still okay in general, and its age makes it a nice option for people who want to see what older houses are like (despite the age of the house in general, the washroom has been lately updated and was clean, as someone picky about washrooms, I'm generally satisfied). The owners are very welcoming. I was a bit confused and nervous before my trip as I didn't receive instructions about check-in, but the whole process turned out to be easy and smooth. Simple vegetarian breakfast is included with no extra charge. The dairy products, the cereals, and the baked toast are great. Generally good location with the Museum of Nature and plenty of good restaurants, pubs, and other food places around the property. It's not close to O Train but bus stops are within a few minutes' walk, and it's an easy drive from the airport. Another thing I liked is that unlike some other B&Bs, I didn't find any stringent and hard house rule, instead things generally remained quite flexible. It's worth noticing that the owners now have two (lovely) dogs, so for people who are not comfortable with dogs for any reason, better to notify the property beforehand so that you can make arrangements beforehand.

6/10 Okay

Timothy

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Convenient to downtown and friendly hosts. Bring a multi-outlet power bar if you have phones, tablets and hearing aids you need to recharge.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2023
Response from Management on Apr 23, 2023
We are in the hospitality-service industry.If a guest doesn't make a request there is no way staff is aware of your needs. Currently there is a power cord visible by the head of the bed in with 2 open outlets. Had you requested a power bar, you would have had it installed in a New York minute! We are here to serve you. There is no way to satisfy an unknown simple request. We had many interesting conversations, but none about specific needs. We enjoyed your company, and apologize for your discomfort.

10/10 Excellent

Ramsey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything was great
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Megan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent owners
Owners were the nicest people ever. Room was clean, though the bed was a double so a bit small. Will be staying here again if in Ottawa.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2022

8/10 Good

Jemma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely, friendly and quirky bnb
Quirky bnb with super friendly owners and lovely room. Located opposite the natural history museum, in walking distance from all key sights. Would recommend!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I don’t usually write reviews, but felt compelled to write a review to hopefully help others. Calling this place a Bread and Breakfast is a stretch. It certainly doesn’t have the appearance of one nor the upkeep. The house is very cluttered, the room was at least tidy, though it had a very old mattress that bent in the middle when laid on. The price charged is definitely not justified for the lodging, the only positive thing was the location. The owners are cordial, but not withstanding, it is not a place I would recommend due to the house conditions.
Stayed 1 night in May 2022

4/10 Poor

Edwin

Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

8/10 Good

Drew, Scarborough ON

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great people! Amazing central location! Can't wait to come back!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018

2/10 Terrible

Jeff, Ottawa

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I booked this B&B on the strength of positive web reviews. I should have dug deeper. Room was small, with old, uncomfortable bed with squeaky mattress. Common rooms were cluttered and dingy looking. Small shared bathroom (which I know is not uncommon for a B&B, but had expected better for supposedly one of the best in Ottawa). Second floor bedroom was sweltering, with no air condition. Paid for my reservation, and left to find accommodations elsewhere. I encourage prospective customers to skip my first step.
Stayed 1 night in May 2018
Response from Mana on Jul 25, 2018
Common rooms have large windows and are full of light. Please know you have the right of refusal for a room. Always test the bed, if it isn't to your liking, please let hosts know so you may have another choice if available. We post the bathroom is shared and the rooms have fans. We are very clear on our offerings. Thank-you for your kindness.

10/10 Excellent

Shannon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The owners were just the sweetest people you can imagine. The premises were clean, cozy, and homey, which is exactly what i want when traveling. Also there is a Most Excellent Dog in residence at the time of this review.
Stayed 1 night in May 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Lovely house hosted by a kind and sociable couple. Vegetarian breakfast! Lots of room. Had a great stay and slept very well.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
Response from La vida on May 15, 2018
Thank you for your generous review. It was an easy pleasure to serve such kind people. The biggest compliment from a guest is that you've had a good sleep.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
It’s closed to all major atrractoon
Very helpfull owner , the bed and breakfast is in a very centre spots
Stayed 1 night in May 2018
Response from <3 on May 15, 2018
We enjoyed your company! You are welcome always.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
House was dingy and smelled of dog, non-guest rooms were dirty and looked like they belonged to hoarders, shared bathroom was clean but the "complimentary" (i.e. present) toiletries consisted of watered-down shower gel/hand soap/shampoo and the towels were small and well-worn. Guest room was furnished for utility with thrifted poor-condition pieces, the room didn't have any style, and bed linens were worn and rough. I half-expected to see bedbug bites on me the next morning (I didn't). Very noisy, but that's more a function of the age of the house than management. Didn't have breakfast but it looked like cold cereal or instant oatmeal were the options. I have traveled in different countries on a variety of budgets so I'm pretty open-minded and forgiving; this place has potential but it's so poorly looked after and thoughtlessly managed that I'm really surprised it has any reviews above mediocre. Would not stay here again or recommend it to anyone. To the owners in the spirit of helping their business: clean up those packrat rooms or install a door that fully closes and keep them hidden; hire a stager, remove 1/3 of the furniture and rearrange the rest into what could be lovely cosy rooms; provide new towels and a basket of individual hand soaps and shampoos in the bath; get rid of the ad hoc furniture everywhere (e.g. breakfast trolley); ensure all lightbulbs function; febreze. One week's accommodation rate spent on the house would do wonders.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2017

8/10 Good

Carmen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
They run a nice clean B&B. The room was a little warm, but tidy and comfortable otherwise. Breakfast included homemade organic bread and fruit. It was not substantial, but thoughtfully prepared. There were also cereals and coffee and tea available.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2017

8/10 Good

Craig, Calgary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Very nice, relaxing stay over Canada Day weekend.
Wonderfully unique B&B. The rooms all have a lot of character and charm. Fantastic location that like to make the most of their holiday with some exploring - right next to a great museum and also within walking distance to Parliament Hill. Steps away from the hot spots of Elgin Street. Perfect wifi, clean guest rooms and bathrooms. Bare bone breakfast but that's okay. You make up for it with new friends and great conversation with the other guests. Siri and Hari are extremely welcoming and are amazing hosts.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2017
Response from Dog Walker on Jul 16, 2017
It was a pleasure to serve you and your family and share a few delightful conversations.

8/10 Good

Frank

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2017
Frank, thank-you for your positive rating. It was a pleasure to have your company in our home.

10/10 Excellent

Jorge

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very friendly people. Good neighbor in front of Nature Museum. Recommended

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service, room comfort

2/10 Terrible

Jenny

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Cluttered filfhty place and rude owners
The first to welcome us was a rat in the enclosed porch that struggled to find a way out (the property has THAT much clutter right from the entrance). Owners used irony and were rude. Siri mocked the visitors that we were hosting (repeating out-loud their words and rolling her eyes). Hari kept walking away and did not wait when a guest asked him to wait for a second as he was too close to his bedroom door. They claim to be the 8th best vegetarian B&B in the world! Wonder when was that. As a vegetarian myself, I can say this was only an excuse not to cook eggs (or anything for that matter). Being vegan would not be an excuse either (they serve cow milk). The second day, as it was three of us, they put the toast for everyone in one large plate and we ate directly over the paper-mat (a waste of the Ottawa map in each 'meal"). Simply, do not expect much. The kitchen was absolutely disgusting (hope the pic we send is attached). The washroom tub was also dirty and the curtain moldy. It seems they have niche customers that do not mind the messiness, and Siri and Hari might be polite to them, but with the total lack of hygiene and basic courtesy / customer services, I am sincerely surprised they manage to keep their licence. They yelled from the top floor as we were leaving. They did not have even the courtesy to come downstairs. A "thank you" from my part would not have been sincere, therefore I simply said out loud: "We're leaving, it was a good location to stay". That was it.

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

6/10 Okay

Family

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very minimal, not for business trip
Bed was not comfortable. very minimal. I would not go back or recommend to my friends. location is great just across the museum. Bring your own soap/shampoo.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
I have been to many b&b and must say breakfast was only toast and coffee offered corn flakes but I am allergic to milk so I left starving .Went to an other restaurant for a good breakfast. therefor the worst breakfast in the past 40 years of going to B & B

6/10 Okay

Melissa

Liked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great Location
On walking distance to the downtown core/city hall. Owners were friendly/welcoming yet kept to themselves. Breakfast very simple. 3 choices of dried cereal or oatmeal.

8/10 Good

ChangCheng, Boston

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
A nice place to stay in downtown Ottawa
A really good experience of B&B in downtown Ottawa. We arrived very late and the innkeeper arranged good way to give us the key and access to our room without any issue. The room is clean and decorated artistically which is very relaxing. I appreciate the pretty flower and fresh towels in the bathroom. The breakfast is meatless but with good tea/coffee and marine bread for fishermen. The innkeeper couple are friendly and we meet other guests and had nice conversation about travelling experiences. We park at the in and walk to the Parliament and major attractions like the canal and Find Art Museum in 20 minutes.

6/10 Okay

Matthew, London

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Very helpful and friendly owners
The owners were very friendly and welcoming, I picked this place mainly as it had free parking which was very handy. Location is right by the nature museum and a nice easy walk to the other sight seeing areas

10/10 Excellent

Alison

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

4/10 Poor

TBird, Toronto

Disliked: Cleanliness, room comfort
Good location but lacking in everything else.
It has been years since we stayed at a BnB but one thing I always loved were the hot breakfasts. This BnB served toast and jam. There was containers of cearel on the table which my daughter tried one but couldn't eat. She said it tastes bad. It was very old. We were all disappointed. The room was cluttered with furniture and personal items and very hot with only a ceiling fan to cool us down.

4/10 Poor

John, Canada

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
More of a B than a BnB
No frills or comforts whatsoever. Breakfast is nothing to write home about. Stale cereal, a slice of toast and some coffee and juice. Right next to the nature museum, but a fair distance to everything else at Parliament Hill and the Byward Market. Mystery white stain on the comforter. Better off paying just slightly more for a substantially better experience elsewhere. Wouldn't recommend for general public.

8/10 Good

Julie, Kitchener

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Home away from Home in our nations capitol
The couple were very outgoing and friendly with a wealth of information about their city. We had a choice of which room we wanted. She gave us a tour of their welcoming, cozy home. The bathroom was impeccably clean with extra holistic/organic toiletries if needed. Our breakfast included an organic raisin toast with cereal, fresh fruit and a choice of drinks. She supplied us with a Canadian flag pin to wear proudly and a reminder to wear sunscreen when we went out which she also supplied. The only thing off that we could comment on was tha parking was tight. For the price we received on short notice from hotels.com and what we experienced we would definitely go back again!!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It was good. Sharing the bathroom was an inconvenience but the location was perfect.

8/10 Good

Krystle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location
The shared bathroom didn't mind but having to wait over an hour to shower the one day was not great, we couldnt leave when we were waiting for others to leave the restroom. It was very hot the weekend we went, ceiling fan didn't cut it, no a/c but we knew this as well. The staff were very friendly and knowledgable, museum right out front, walking distance to downtown. Breakfast we didn't have but the one day my partner saw it was cereal and cantaloupe. Lots of teas and instant coffee. Over all it was great with the exception of having to wait to use the bathroom.

8/10 Good

Shuchen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

6/10 Okay

Wee Kim

Accommodating host
I checked in to the room very late and he host was really kind to leave very detailed instructions on what to do. Room was average and mattress was sagging. Breakfast was very basic. Location is just opposite Museum of nature and walkable to Parliament hill. Owner's recommendations of restaurant was excellent.

6/10 Okay

Michael

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort

10/10 Excellent

Tricia, Red Deer

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very pleasant stay. Owners (hosts) available for conversation and/or directions/suggestions if solicited. I will stay there again.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Serene b&b in a great neighborhood
Loved my stay at downtown b&b. You'll enjoy breakfast with guests from all over, and a safe, walkable neighborhood with lots of shops and restaurants. The hosts go out of their way to ensure a good experience for all. Thank you!

4/10 Poor

Jean-Pierre, Pincourt Quebec canada

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
relaxing place
Well situated for the natural museum visit. bear in mind that this place is over 100 years old, so dont expect wide open areas. The staff (owners)very symphatic, we were feeling free to do what we wanted. breakfeast was very simple but did the job (not continental breakfeast type). wifi was stable, did not see the SPA (i guess: winter time...) No TV in the room.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Disliked: Room comfort
Acceptable option if you want to save
I liked free parking and location close to downtown. I did not like that breakfast was not filling, which only included tea, cereal and toasts. Also the bed was uncomfortable due to hard surface

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Relaxed and cozy B&B in downtown Ottawa
I enjoyed my stay at Downtown Bed and Breakfast very much. I was unfortunate in having my stay coincide with an extreme cold snap, but luckily the B&B is very close to all you need: it's right opposite the Canadian Museum of Nature, very close to a variety of restaurants, and -- even in the extreme cold -- you can easily manage a walk to Parliament and the historic downtown. The owners are very nice and helpful, and they also offer spa treatments. They have two shy but friendly dogs. If you happen to be there in the winter, they have a kettle set up throughout the day, so you can have coffee, tea, and hot chocolate any time.

8/10 Good

Chiamaka, Toronto

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Natural Choice
Love the location; conveniently close to a few different consulates and tourist attractions. It was also very clean. The owners make it a wonderful place to stay - they gave me lots of valuable advice, and I felt very welcome. There were, however, two things that left me unsatisfied. 1) WiFi connection was poor 2) Breakfast was delicious but lacking in proteinous substance (there was spelt in the toast though) I would also advise that you book well in advance. I'm a rookie at this sort of thing, but I feel the price was high because I reserved the room so late. Cheers!

8/10 Good

Oluwaseun, Winnipeg, MB

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Intimate Stay
I had a short stay but I could tell the owners were nice, clean, and very helpful people.

2/10 Terrible

Ted, Vancouver

Disliked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Where not to stay
The place was a joke,nice people but do not have a clue what a B&B should be like.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Room comfort
An interesting change from hotels
This is a B&B in Ottawa, near downtown and Elgin St. It is in a large and quaint old house. Like most B&Bs you have to share a bathroom and there is no TV or phone in the room. They serve a modest continental breakfast. Parking and WiFi are free, and it has excellent access to freeway and local attractions. Like most old houses, there are creaky floors, some dust and no air-conditioning. It smells delightfully like the herbal incense in a spa, and the beds are very comfortable.

8/10 Good

Larry, Vancouver

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice break from bland hotels
This character house converted to a Bed and Breakfast was a nice break from the blandness of most hotels. It is across from a architectural wonder of the last century. The folks running it bring a very personal touch, as if inviting you into their home--which they are.

2/10 Terrible

Brigitte, switzerland

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
stay to forget
it was dirty!!!

6/10 Okay

Diana, Ontario

Liked: Staff & service
Great location
Great location. Accomodated my late arrival. Clean. A bit cluttered but comfortable.